Media Release 1
November 2007
ROCKHAMPTON THE NEW CENTRE FOR RAIL INNOVATION
Rockhampton is cementing its reputation as the rail capital of
Australia with the formation of a new company Rail Innovation
Australia Pty Ltd in the regional city to develop and commercialise
railway technologies for the national and international railway
market.
Created as a result of the success of the Cooperative Research
Centre (CRC) for Rail which was based at Central Queensland
University prior to its conclusion at the end of October, the new
company holds the Intellectual Property for a number of innovative
railway technologies which could save the rail industry tens of
millions of dollars per annum upon commercialisation.
According to new General Manager of Rail Innovation Australia, Dr
Anna Thomas, the Company was created as a spin-off to the Rail CRC
whose six-year funding concluded on 30
th
June 2007.
“Due to the success of Rail CRC researchers based at
universities around Australia over the past six years, we now have
the potential to develop rail technologies worth millions of
dollars in savings to the rail industry each year through this new
start-up company,” Dr Thomas said.
“The first project we will be focusing on is the further
development of new braking technology which could assist the rail
industry better cope with the booming resources industry by
allowing trains to travel faster more safely and stop in shorter
distances than is now possible with conventional brakes,” she
said.
“The OZ-ECP brakes as they are known could replace the air
brakes used on the majority of Australian trains to provide for a
safer electronic braking system, with a fail-safe air brake back-up
at all times.”
“QR is so strongly supportive of this technology they have
committed substantial funds to work with Rail Innovation Australia
and France-based international transport company Faiveley Transport
to fast-track this new brake product so it could be used on
Queensland trains by 2009/2010.”
Rail Innovation Australia is based at Central Queensland
University, and has the difficult task of succeeding as a start-up
technology company in a cut-throat commercialisation market.
“However, the asset base our company has started with
includes excellent technologies such as the OZ-ECP brake product, a
cost-saving Rail Noise and Wear Assessment Tool currently being
successfully trialled by three of Australia’s major rail
operators and the ‘Health Card’ which could assist
greatly reduce the risk of derailments, particularly of long-haul
freight trains,” Dr Thomas said.
In the long-term, Rail Innovation Australia Pty Ltd will position
itself as a facilitator and leader in the development of new
products and technologies, the transfer of intellectual property
and corporate venturing.
For further information:
Dr Anna Thomas, Rail Innovation Australia Pty Ltd, (07) 4923 2029
